OTTAWA -- New Democratic Party leader Ed Broadbent leaves today for a 10-day tour of Latin American countries 'to help the cause of peace' in El Salvador and to meet with government leaders.
'My hope is to learn what, if anything, concerned friends can do -- or refrain from doing -- to help the cause of peace,' Broadbent said on the eve of of his tour.
An external affairs department spokesman said Broadbent had been briefed by departmental officials on current events in the Latin American region and would be further briefed by Canadian embassy officials when he arrived in those countries.
Broadbent will represent Socialist International, a 43-member group comprised of social democratic governments and parties and led currently by former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt.
The NDP leader, an SI vice-president, told reporters his mission was to 'hear the views of the leaders in the region, and in El Salvador itself.'
During a brief news conference, the socialist party leader declined to answer any questions on specific details of the tour 'because of the sensitive nature of the visit.'
The tour will also take Broadbent to Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Havana, and will end with a visit to Washington for talks with U.S. officials.
'There is no intention on my part, or on the part of Socialist International, to intrude in any way in matters which can only be resolved by the people of El Salvador,' Broadbent said.
He added that democratic political solutions were possible if a dialogue could be maintained among leaders in the region.
His objects were to determine the current positions of the involved parties in El Salvador; to attempt to provide momentum to any process which could lead to a negotiated settlement; to determine what preconditions the right-wing government and its leftist opposition might accept; and to report his findings to SI president Brandt.
